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Why
Should I Worry About Osteoporosis?
Low bone density puts one
at risk of frequent fractures, associated pain, and in many cases, loss
of independence. Wrists, hips, spine and ribs are most commonly
affected. The consequences of osteoporosis are often seen as a slow but
progressive rounding of the shoulders and loss of height. Particularly
devastating seem to be hip fractures - up to one third of patients never
seem to regain full mobility.
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In a healthy
individual, bone tissue is constantly being broken down and
rebuilt. In an individual with osteoporosis, more bone tissue is
lost than is regenerated.
We've all heard
of women suffering from weaker bones, or osteoporosis, after
menopause. In men, testosterone is thought to play a role in
helping to maintain this balance.
Between the ages
of 40 and 70 years, male bone density falls by up to 15 percent.
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Unfortunately,
with advancing age and declining testosterone levels, men seem
to demonstrate a similar pattern of risk for osteoporosis as
women. What's more, approximately one in eight men over age 50
actually has osteoporosis.
The incidence of
hip fractures rises exponentially in aging men, as it does in
women, starting about 5 to 10 years later than in women.
In Canada,
20-30% of osteoporotic fractures occur in men. The incidence in
fractures has been increasing in men, whereas it seems to be
stabilizing in women Ñ likely due to the lifestyle changes,
calcium supplements and hormone replacement therapies that women
are embracing.
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What
can you do about Andropause?
Understand your own risks for osteoporosis.
It is impossible to predict
who will get osteoporosis. However, there are several factors that can
put certain men at increased risk. These include:
- Age
- Low testosterone
levels
- Family history of
osteoporosis
- Thin and/or small
frame
- Use of certain
medications such as corticosteroids, anticonvulsants and
anti-rejection drugs
- Excessive alcohol
consumption
- Smoking
- Lack of
weight-bearing exercise
If you have any of these
risk factors you may want to find out more about osteoporosis prevention
from your physician or from other providers of information on
osteoporosis.
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